Up Convention
Saturday, August 15; 12-8p
Sunday, August 16; 8a-3p
Up to 15 CEs available
*Ethics and Boundaries and Implicit Bias offered separately as on-demand webinars
UP Convention
Join us this summer in beautiful Marquette for the 2026 U.P. Chiropractic Convention. This year we are heading back to Ramada by Wyndham Marquette for a weekend of continuing education and connection.
Attendees can earn up to 15 continuing education credits while connecting with colleagues and enjoying everything the U.P. has to offer. Speaker details will be announced soon.
Ethics and Boundaries and Implicit Bias credits are available online to those who still need these hours for your current licensure period. They are available here.
Speakers & Class Descriptions
The Heart of Chiropractic: Why Philosophy Still Matters in Modern Practice
Saturday: 12-4p
4 CEs
Course Description & Bio
Why does chiropractic philosophy still matter in today’s healthcare landscape? Join Dr. Steven Simmons for an inspiring journey through history, principles, and purpose that continues to define the chiropractic profession. Drawing from his lifelong passion for chiropractic history and decades of clinical experience, Dr. Simmons will connect the profession’s rich heritage with the realities of modern practice. Whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or a future chiropractor, you’ll walk away inspired by chiropractic’s remarkable legacy, energized by its enduring principles, and excited to help shape its future.
Dr. Steven Simmons is a 1999 graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic and has been in practice in Midland, Michigan, since 2000. He has completed post-doctoral training in Knee Chest Upper Cervical Technique and is passionate about principled chiropractic care, philosophy, and the profession’s rich history.
An active leader in the Michigan Association of Chiropractors for nearly three decades, Dr. Simmons currently serves as Vice President and Director of External Affairs and Vice Chair of the Ethics and Professional Conduct Peer Review Committee. A sought-after advocate for the profession, he brings a unique blend of clinical experience, historical perspective, and enthusiasm that inspires chiropractors to embrace chiropractic’s heritage while looking confidently toward its future.
The Lost Vagus Nerve and the Neuroplastic Revolution
Saturday: 4-8p, Sunday 8-11a
7 CEs
Sponsored by Foot Levelers, Inc
Course Description & Bio
As research continues to deepen our understanding of vagal tone, autonomic regulation, and the gut-brain connection, chiropractors have new opportunities to enhance patient care. In this dynamic, evidence-informed seminar, Dr. Dan Davidson explores the clinical integration of vagus nerve function, stress physiology, posture, movement, and neuroplasticity into everyday practice. Through practical protocols and patient communication strategies, attendees will learn how to help patients build resilience, improve engagement, and support long-term health outcomes.
Dr. Dan Davidson is a second-generation chiropractor and founder of Back Resort & Functional Health Therapy in Salem, Virginia, where he has provided patient-centered care since 1985. A magna cum laude graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic, Dr. Davidson combines chiropractic care with rehabilitation, posture and motion therapy, nutrition, stress balancing, and functional wellness to help patients achieve lasting health.
An accomplished author, podcaster, musician, and international speaker, Dr. Davidson is a longtime Foot Levelers speaker and creator of the Lost Vagus Nerve Function: Stress Balancing and Brain-Gut Wellness workshop. Having cared for more than 15,000 patients, he is widely recognized for his expertise in functional health and has been honored numerous times by his peers as a Top Doc Chiropractor.
Finding the Root Cause: Practical Lab Testing for Chiropractors
Sunday: 11a-3p
4 CEs
Sponsored by NutriDyn
Course Description & Bio
Many patients arrive with chronic symptoms, stacks of lab reports, and more questions than answers. Are you confident interpreting the information they’re bringing to your office? In this practical, clinically focused session, Dr. Gleason will demonstrate how chiropractors can integrate laboratory testing into everyday practice to better identify root causes, understand the effects of common medications, and develop more personalized care strategies. You’ll leave with practical tools for reviewing lab results, determining when advanced testing is appropriate, communicating findings with confidence, and creating follow-up plans that strengthen patient outcomes and practice success.
Dr. Gleason has been serving patients in his hometown since 1978, combining an engineering mindset with more than four decades of chiropractic experience. After graduating from the University of Michigan College of Engineering, he earned his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic.
His practice emphasizes identifying and addressing the root causes of illness through Applied Kinesiology, Sacro Occipital Technique (SOT), clinical nutrition, and advanced diagnostic testing. Dr. Gleason integrates chiropractic care with therapies including low-level laser, PEMF, ultrasound, traction, massage, and extremity adjusting to provide individualized treatment plans.
Known for his thoughtful approach to complex cases, Dr. Gleason is committed to listening carefully, embracing innovation, and helping patients achieve lasting health.
Venue Information
Ramada by Wyndham, Marquette
A room block is available at the Ramada for $169 per night (plus tax).
To reserve, call (906) 228-6000 and ask for the Michigan Association of Chiropractors room block. The discounted rate is available until July 24, 2026.
Make plans now to join us in Marquette.
PLEASE NOTE that CEs for Ethics, Sexual Boundaries and Implicit Bias training will NOT be offered at the 2026 U.P. Convention. Remember that the state of Michigan requires one hour in ethics, one hour in Sexual Boundaries and two hours in Implicit Bias training. These courses can be taken online through the MAC website. If you are not sure if you have already taken these courses during your licensure cycle, or need assistance in registering for these online, please contact the MAC at info@chiromi.com or (517) 367-2225.